Haptic Technologies Leave Visually Impaired Fans in the Dark at Africa Cup Final

Despite haptic devices being available for visually impaired fans at the Africa Cup of Nations, their absence in the final game raises concerns about the inclusivity claims. The disparity in facilities highlights ongoing challenges in prioritizing accessibility for disabled supporters, despite commitments from football authorities.

Despite the initial excitement surrounding the use of haptic devices for visually impaired fans at the Africa Cup of Nations, the absence of such technology during the final between Senegal and Morocco raised serious concerns. With 66,526 supporters in attendance, the lack of access highlighted a gap in delivering on inclusivity promises.

Visually impaired fans were catered to at only three out of the 52 games held during the tournament's 35th edition. The disparity led to criticism of the claims of inclusivity, emphasizing a lack of priority for accessibility facilities for supporters with disabilities, despite reassurances from the Confederation of African Football.

Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football, expressed a commitment to improving infrastructure for disabled supporters but provided no concrete examples during a press conference. Critics argue that current measures are tokenistic and fall short of comprehensive inclusivity standards as Morocco continues to prepare for the 2030 World Cup.